Rosette Media
- Sep 30, 2023
- 3 min read

FIBA Intercontinental Cup Singapore 2023

Background

The 33rd edition of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup opens a new chapter in the history of this storied competition. It is the first time ever the event is hosted in Asia, the first time ever it includes Asian clubs, and the first time in the last 36 years that it features more than four contenders for the title.

The field of contenders has expanded to six clubs from around the world, drawn into two groups. These six teams represent six diametrically different leagues and each team comes from a different geographical region, but they all have one thing in common: None of them yet knows what it feels like to lift the FIBA Intercontinental Cup trophy, and they all arrive in Singapore aiming to conquer the coveted crown and add it to their silverware collection.

GROUP A

AL AHLY - EGYPT - Basketball Africa League winner

NBA G LEAGUE IGNITE - USA - NBA G League representative

SESI FRANCA - BRAZIL - Basketball Champions League Americas winner

GROUP B

AL MANAMA - BAHRAIN - FIBA West Asia Super League winner

TELEKOM BASKETS BONN - GERMANY - Basketball Champions League winner ZHEJIANG GOLDEN BULLS - CHINA - Chinese Basketball Association representative

Each team will play two games in the Group Phase and on the final day of competition the teams that topped their respective groups will square off in the Final to battle for the trophy. The second-placed teams in each group will face off in the Third-Place Game, while the third-placed teams in each group will fight for fifth place in the tournament.

Event Launch

The FIBA Intercontinental Cup Singapore 2023, was officially launched by Singapore’s Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Mr. Edwin Tong and he kicked off the competition with a co-slam dunk alongside Li Si Yi, a Singapore basketball player currently training with the Eng Tat Hornets.

Taking place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium from 21-24 September 2023, the four-day competition will see six international teams, NBA G League Ignite, Zhejiang Golden Bulls, Sesi Franca, Al Ahly, Al Manama and Telekom Baskets Bonn, battle it out for the coveted trophy. Basketball fans can also catch an electrifying lunch-time exhibition game by Chinese Taipei’s Hsinchu Lioneers and Singapore’s Eng Tat Hornets on 23 September 2023 at 12pm.

GET YOUR TICKETS TO WATCH THE LIVE ACTION

Tickets are available for purchase here:

Single Day Pass: From $10 (youths aged 4-18) and $40 (standard tickets)
Season Pass: Access to all games on all game days. Tickets start from $236
Courtside Pass: Access to all games on all game days with exclusive courtside seats, hospitality at the All-Star Lounge, meet and greet sessions with basketball legends, and a showcase of curated exhibits from Sneakertopia collection. The pass is priced at $1,488

Final Match Synopsis

The FIBA Intercontinental Cup added on Sunday a new name to the list of trophy winners, as Sesi Franca won the competition on a buzzer-beating fadeaway jumper of their captain Lucas Dias.

Sesi France defeated Telekom Baskets Bonn 70-69, making it only the second Final in Intercontinental Cup to finish by a single point margin, following the 2015 title game, which Brazil's Bauru won 91-90 against Spain's Real Madrid. Back then, the tournament used a two-game format in the Final, Madrid won the reverse fixture by 12 to claim the trophy.

Sesi Franca become the third Brazilian team to win the Intercontinental Cup, after Sirio won it in 1979, and Flamengo in 2014 and 2022. Georginho De Paula promised his teammates he would leave with a trophy in his hands, and he delivered on that promise, posting 8 points and 5 assists in the Final.

David Jackson walks away with the MVP of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2023 Singapore award, leading the backcourt in the Final with 12 points and 8 assists. Telekom Baskets Bonn are now the second German team to lose the Final, after Fraport Skyliners back in 2016. Watson scored 16 points off the bench, Harald Frey had 11, Sengfelder finished with 10 for the Basketball Champions League Europe winners.